Centrifugal casting apparatus



Ma -ch 11,1924; 1,486,544 I J, A. RATHBONE CENTRIFUGAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 awue/wto'z TIE/172%w Ra ($120k e March 11, 1924., 7 1,486,544

J. RATHBONE CENTR IFUGAL CAST ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .J Z I 3mm r707m/Kfiaffiba7ze lit) JOHN A. MTHBONE, 0h DETI'K, MIG-Ab i.

CENTRIFUGAL CASTING APP'IPUS.

Application filed February at, 1923. Berle! Ito. seams.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN A. RA'rnieoNa, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifu a1 Casting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to apparatus for centrifugally formin castings and consists in various features 0' construction as hereinafter set forth.

- In the drawings:

of the molten metal into a revolving mol in which it is distributed by centrifugal action. In order that the castings may be quickly formed and removed, it is desirable to maintain the surface of the mold at a relatively low temperature. This I have accomplished in my improved applaratus by a flui coolin system in which t e coolin medium is he d in contact with the meta walls to be cooled by centrifugal action and in which steam or vapor generated is quickl removed. I also make use of the centri gal action for locking the sections of the mold, so thatwhen the apparatus is stop ed, these sections may be easily separate for the removal of the work.

In detail, A is a sutiable base which as shown, is in the form of ,the tank. B is a standard rising from this base and prefer ably cast integral therewith, carrying a its upper end a bearing C for a revolvin inclined shaft D. There is also a bearing for the lower end of the shaft and between the bearings C and Ev there is connected to the shaft a driving mechanism shown as a bevel gear wheel with a driving bevel gear wheel G.

At the u per end of the shaft D is mountedthe mol H, referabl by providing the integral flange upon t eshaft, which is bolted or otherwise secured to the body of the mold. The walls and also, the base of I the'mold are hollow and in communication with an axial passe At the lower end 0 the she t there is proon the shaft meshing throu h the shaft D.-

vided a suitable water supply connection J having a stuffing box K or other means for connecting it to the revolving part. The water from this connection passes u ward into the hollow walls of the mold bo y and to permit the escape of hot water and steam there is also provided an exit throu h the axis ofthe shaft. Preferably this is formed by an inner tube L, which is held in position by a spider M or other suitable means, and at its lower end is in communication with a cross channel N passing out through the walls of the shaft. Thus when water is introduced under pressure, it will flow upward adjacent to the Walls of the tube and into the chamber in the mold body, where it is thrown outward by centrifugal action while the heated'water and steam being of less density, will be forced inwar through the axial passage and will eventually esca e through the channel N.

or retaining the metal in the mold during the pouring operation there is provided a removable cover plate This is of annular form and at one side is hinged to the body, as indicated at P, while at its opposite side it is provided with a hooked arm Q engaging a latch or detent R. This latch being pivoted to the body of the mold will be pressed outward by centrifugal action, so that the more rapidly the mold is revolved the firmer the en agement between the latch and the arm. he engagin faces of the latch and the arm are beve ed so that the centrifu al pressure will also draw the cover plate tig tly a ainst the body of the mold. A light spring may be provided to initially press the latch outward, but this is not depended upon for locking the parts as the centrifugal pressure will accomplish such result. I

With the ap aratus as described, in use, the mold being I eld in inclined position, permits of conveniently pouring the metal thereinto from a ladle or other source'of supply.

Before pouring, rotary motion is imparted to the shaft and mold and the metal, upon contacting with the walls of the mold, will be set into; motion and uniformly distributed.

Any excess of metal will flow over the inner margin of the cover plate 0, thereby exactly gaugin the amount retained for each casting. i= reasen of the cooling of the mold bod t e molten metal is quickly chilled and so idified, so that in a very short time the machine can be stopped and the lid casting removed. In removing the casting the cover plate is first turned outward on its hinge, after which the casting can be withdrawn,- the shrinkage being suflicient to separate it from the mold body. If desired, the castings may subsequently be subjected to an annealing process to change the character of the metal.

To catch the molten metal which would be thrown off centrifugally in case of the over filling of the mold, I have arranged an annular shield or guard T which completely surrounds the mold without interfering with access thereto. This guard has a notch U cut in the lower portion of the flange thereof adapted to engage the cover plate 0 when open and thereby to lock the spindle from rotation. This forms a safety device, which insures that the cover plate will be closed before motion is imparted to the machine.

The machine is preferably driven by an electric motor mounted on the base, as indicated at V, and for convenience in controlling this motor the controllin switch W is mounted on the pedestal within easy reach of the operator. There is also preferably provided a brake for quickly stopping the rotation, this consisting of a lever Y having a brake shoe Y for engaging the motor shaft and a pedestal Y for applying braking power thereto.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An apparatus for centrifugally forming castings, comprising a revoluble annular mold having hollow walls, a hollow shaft on which said mold is mounted, and means for introducing a cooling fluid into said hollow mold through said hollow shaft and for forcing the heated fluid and vapor axially outward through said shaft by centrifugal action.

2. An apparatus for centrifugally forming castings, comprising a revoluble annular mold having hollow walls, a hollow shaft on which said mold is mounted, means for forcing a cooling fluid into said hollow walls through said hollow shaft, and a vent for the escape of heated fluid and vapor communicating with the axis of said hollow shaft, whereby circulation is forced by centrifugal action.

3. An apparatus for centrifugally forming castings, comprising an inclined hollow rotary shaft, an annular mold having hollow walls mounted on said shaft, means for forcin a cooling li uid into said hollow walls t rough said ho low shaft, a vent tube arranged axially within said hollow shaft, communicating at its lower end with a transversely extending escape port, whereby the heated fluid and vapor will be forced outward centrifugally through said vent tube and escape port.

4. An apparatus for centrifugally forming castings, comprising a rotary mold, a cover plate therefor, a latch 'for holding said cover plate forced outward by centrifugal action, and coacting cam surfaces on said latch and cover late by which the centrifugal pressure wil press the cover against the body of the mold.

5. An apparatus for centrifugally forming castings, comprising an inclined rotary hollow shaft, an annular mold mounted on said shaft and having hollow Walls in communication with the same, means for introducing a cooling fluid through said hollow shaft and into the hollow walls of said mold, and an annular cover plate for said mold through the open center of which the molten metal may be poured into contact withthe chilled walls of the mold.

6. An apparatus for centrifugally forming castings, comprising an inclmed rotary shaft, a mold mounted on said shaft, an annular cover plate for said mold permitting the pouring of the molten metal therein and retaining the metal re uired for the casting while permitting ove ow of an excess of metal, and an annular shield surrounding said mold for catching the excess metal when thrown out centrifugally from the mold. a

7. An apparatus forcentrifugall forming castings, comprisin an incline rotary shaft, a mold mounte on said shaft, a hinged annular cover plate for said mold permitting the pouring of the molten metal thereinto and retaining the metal for the casting while permitting overflow of excess metal, a latch for holding said cover plate locked when the mold is revolving, an annular shield surrounding said mold for catching the overflow of molten metal thrown out centrifugally, and means for forming an interlockmg engagement between said cover plate and mold when the former is open to prevent the imparting of rotary motion to the mold.

8. An apparatus for centrifugally forming castings, comprising a revoluble annular mold having hollow walls, a hollow shaft on which saidmold is mounted, means for introducing a cooling fluid into said hollow mold through said hollow shaft and for forcing the heated fluid axially outward throu h said shaft.

9. n apparatus for centrifu ally forming castings, comprising a revolu le annular mold having hollow walls, a hollow shaft on which said mold is mounted, means for introducing a cooling fluid into said hollow mold through said hollow shaft, and a tube within said hollow shaft for withdrawing the heated fluid, said tube communicating with said mold substantially at the axis thereof.

10. An apparatus for centrifugally forming castings, comprising a rotary mold, a

means cover plate therefor, rovided with a cam surface, and a latch aving a cooperating cam surface in engagement with said first mentioned cam sur ace whereby the cover is pressed against said mold through centrifugal action.

11. An apparatus 'for centrifugally forming castings, comprising a rotary mold, a cover plate therefor, a spring pressed latch for removably holding said cover plate to said mold when the latter is stationary, and coacting cam surfaces for pressing the cover to said mold by centrifuga action when the mold is rotating.

12. An apparatus for centrifugally form- 16 ing castings, comtprising a rotary mold, a cover plate there or, provided wlth a. cam surface, a latch pivotally secured to said mold, a cooperating cam surface on said latch engageable with the cam surface on 20 said cover whereby the latter is pressed to said mold through centrifugal action of said latch, and a spring for removably engaging the latch with said cover when the apparatus is stationary. as

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN A. RATHBONE. 

